John..where are you in Florida? You need to get yourself and your scans and biopsy to a Comprehensive Cancer Center for a multidisciplinary approach to your diagnosis and treatment. I would highly recommend Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa. There, you have a team of doctors working together to formulate their best suggestion for your next step. I think I would want their opinion before you go for surgery. You might even decide, if they do suggest a dissection, that you want it done there.

Please consider this. You will be seen by doctors who handle head and neck cancers every day instead of once in a while. There is a phone number on the Moffitt Cancer Center website for the head and neck clinic...please call them a make an appointment for a second/third opinion.

Best of luck,

Deb